Stories for a better planet

Spiti , Himachal Pradesh, India

Nestled in the trans-himalayan range, Spiti is a high altitude cold desert region with an arid landscape, scarce vegetation and a 6 month long cold winter period (temperatures dip to –30 degree centigrade) allowing cultivation of only one crop a year. Spread over more than 7,000 sq km, Spiti gets isolated during the winter months with access routes getting disrupted due to thick layers of snow.

Millions of years ago, Spiti lay submerged under the Tethys sea. Remnants of its geological past are evident in its unique landscape & diverse fossils of marine life. Land of the endangered Snow Leopard & Himalayan Wolf, Spiti is also home to the Ibex, Blue Sheep, Red Fox, Marmots, Snow Cock & numerous migratory birds. Despite being a high altitude cold desert, Spiti boasts of more than 450 species of Medicinal & aromatic plants.

The starkly beautiful locale of Spiti offers breathtaking views of the mountains, interesting trekking trails, a magnificent night sky, diverse flora and fauna, a rich cultural heritage and fascinating folklore.It is also aptly referred to as the ‘Valley of Monasteries’. Some of the oldest Buddhist monasteries & temples dating back over a 1000 years along with unique aspects of Tibetan Buddhist culture are well preserved and have flourished in the Spiti Valley.

This natural splendor of Spiti has another facet. The harsh geographical and climatic conditions make living there a challenge. Traditionally a form of subsistence agro-pastoralism prevailed in the community. Barley and black peas (kala matter) were the local crops which also formed an important source of fodder for livestock and fuel. The past 20 years have witnessed a gradual shift in consumption patterns and changes in livelihoods towards a more cash based market economy. Though sources of cash based income are still few and seasonal. For example, the Government’s infrastructure development program provides construction and labor contracting opportunities. But it does not ensure a steady source of income. Cash crops like green pea have been introduced into the region. Though green pea cultivation is a lucrative option, but it is not conducive to the regions geo-climatic conditions, being an extremely water intensive crop. With green pea replacing the conventional barley and black pea cultivation, a key source of fodder has been lost. This has restricted the community’s ability to rear livestock.

These shifts in practices and needs have skewed the traditional equation between the local level of demand and the ability of the existing natural resource base to meet this demand. It has been replaced by a situation where Spiti has to depend on external sources of supply for most of its needs and has only the income generated by Government contracts to acquire these goods and services.